Sterger’s manager, Favre’s agent disagree about settlement talks

Posted by Mike Florio on November 23, 2010, 9:56 PM EST

As the NFL continues its “fast track” investigation of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, which was stuck in the slow lane for weeks because of former Jets in-house sideline reporter Jenn Sterger’s reluctance to talk to the league, Sterger’s manager and Favre’s agent disagree about the origin of settlement talks that went nowhere.

Phil Reese, who represents Sterger, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that, in the days before Deadspin released audio and alleged photos of Favre, Reese called Favre’s agent, Bus Cook.

“I was concerned because I didn’t know exactly what was going to be coming out, and I knew that it wasn’t going to be good for everyone involved,” Reese said. “[Cook] asked me if there was a specific figure in mind that could make this go away. I told him, ‘I wish it were that easy, but there’s no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.'”

Cook denied the accusation in a statement to the AP.

“Her manager and her lawyer have made numerous overtures to me . . . at least 6 between the two of them,” Cook said. “Anyone can figure out why. The point is we were never going to pay them, we didn’t pay them and we will never pay them. Because, there is NO reason to pay them! They should consider that their attempts to negotiate privately and through the media have failed.”

In our view, Reese wasn’t calling Cook as a friendly gesture. Their clients’ interests aren’t aligned. Cook may have interpreted Reese’s first move as an effort to squeeze Favre into paying money to prevent the information from landing on the pages of Deadspin. And if Cook had asked at that time whether a “specific figure” could “make this go away,” Reese couldn’t make that happen because the information was released apparently without the involvement of Sterger. In other words, no amount of money paid by Favre to Sterger could have kept the information from becoming public.

In other words, there was no putting the toothpaste back in the tube.

After that, the question became whether Sterger would cooperate with the NFL’s investigation. Without her cooperation, there simply could be no punishment of Favre. So when Sterger hired a lawyer who said he would pursue every available remedy and when Reese and the lawyer routinely made it be known that she was strongly considering cooperating with the league, the message to Favre and Cook was clear: “Make us an offer.”

Now that Sterger has met with the NFL, she has no leverage. Sure, she could sue Favre. But if she were going to sue him she would have done it by now. Sterger’s leverage cannon had one shot — and she fired it when she met with the league. At this point, there’s nothing Favre could pay her to undo the fact that she met with the league.

So why is Reese peddling a version of events that the trained eye reasonably may regard as embellished at best, fabricated at worst? Because Sterger no longer has a job in the media, and if those from whom she may be seeking employment perceive her to be an opportunistic gold digger, she’ll have a hard time getting another job in the media. Part of Reese’s job is to push a better image of his client, and the Associated Press was more than willing to listen.

Well there really is no reason to pay. The story is/was already out there and the damage to Favre’s reputation and family life already done. Payoffs are supposed to be for preventing damage, not minimizing it after the fact.

4sacroc says:Nov 23, 2010 10:19 PM

This story gets less relevant with each passing Sunday as #4 craps down his leg.

I agree with you Mike! This story had all kinds of holes in it! It happened in 2008 if it was real it should have come out then or shortly there after! A very feeble attempt to extort money from Favre. Too little to late! I do not think anything will come out of this! If there were any proven inappropriate advances by Favre it would never have taken this long …………….!

mikemcsaint says:Nov 23, 2010 10:59 PM

Why is this story even relevant? We don’t go to PBT and read stories about the Clipper’s players or HBT and read stories about the Pirate’s players. A team like the Vikings is irrelevant. They don’t matter and likely won’t for years to come. Their fan base is pathetic and they have a 3-7 record. If Brett Favre were a horse they’d take him out behind the barn and put him out of his misery.

touchdownroddywhite says:Nov 23, 2010 11:08 PM

All Favre has to do is whip it out for a few folks and show them the pictures aren’t him… If they aren’t him…

This just in: Bus Cook is changing his name to LeQuisha. To be relevant.

Puleeze. Go away. Take Betty and Wrangler and GO AWAY!

normswifevera says:Nov 23, 2010 11:29 PM

Florio, doesn’t your “trained eye” realize that if Sterger’s people had contacted Favre looking for money, Favre’s people would have rushed to get that story out? Hell, given that it supposedly happened “numerous” times, they would have recorded one of the conversations and released the tape.

Quite obviously, a story of Farve being hit up for hush money would have made Favre look like a victim, and it would have raised serious questions as to whether there was really any truth to the allegations.

If anything Bus Cook said was true, it’s downright laughable to think he wouldn’t have run straight to the media.

She is going after the jets. How could you not mention this in the article?

tommytd says:Nov 24, 2010 1:17 AM

Why not have #4’s guys talk to Tiger’s guys so they can discuss how really successful these cash-for-silence payments are. LOL

Deb says:Nov 24, 2010 1:22 AM

Have Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya, or Andrea Kremer done nude photo shoots? When Jenn Sterger announced she’d removed her breast implants because they’d served their purpose in her career, that defined the kind of career she wanted and how she intended to build it. If she wanted to be taken seriously as a sports journalist, she’d have worked for it. She chose to go a different route. And the games she played are at least partly to blame for the Vikings 2010 meltdown and Childress’s dismissal.

Enough people have given to the Sterger cause. She needs to quietly slink into sex-scandal history where she belongs. If she’s that desperate for money, I’m sure she can always get another centerfold. Or a handout from greatful Packer fans.

Why is it NFL business if he did whatever with this woman 2years ago? Who freaking cares? Deanna should be only one! And to the person that said he is crapping down his leg, have you even watched a game? Have you seen him have 2 seconds in the pocket? Ones crapping is O line, they need to step up and you need to educate yourself before you put out a stupid opinion. Just saying.

Who cares? The whole world now knows that Farve’s good old boy image is a myth. OK, he’s a flawed human being, who isnt? The most important factors are Favre is leading the NFL in INT’s, he is a major contributor in his team’s 3-7 record, and most importantly, he has single handily ruined the Vikings big 50th anniversary season.

As a side benefit, he has send a bunch of CryQueen posters into hiding and as a result, PFT is better off for it.

paperlions says:Nov 24, 2010 7:53 AM

Sterger doesn’t have a leg to stand on here. What Favre did was inappropriate, but if it really bothered her she would have reported it to the Jets. The Jets had no responsibility to stop a behavior they were not aware of…it is up to the victim to make employers aware. Instead, she laughed about it with friends and appears to have thought it was funny.

The attempts at extortion, which no doubt happened considering the timing of events and the delays in talking to the NFL, and any pressure to extort the Jets will just put the final nails in the coffin of her “media” career. No one will hire a talentless gold digger.

everybodygotaids says:Nov 24, 2010 8:46 AM

Deb says:
Nov 24, 2010 1:22 AM
Have Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya, or Andrea Kremer done nude photo shoots? When Jenn Sterger announced she’d removed her breast implants because they’d served their purpose in her career, that defined the kind of career she wanted and how she intended to build it. If she wanted to be taken seriously as a sports journalist, she’d have worked for it. She chose to go a different route. And the games she played are at least partly to blame for the Vikings 2010 meltdown and Childress’s dismissal.

Enough people have given to the Sterger cause. She needs to quietly slink into sex-scandal history where she belongs. If she’s that desperate for money, I’m sure she can always get another centerfold. Or a handout from greatful Packer fans.
____________

Oh yes, the great sources of professional knowledge that are Michele Tafoya and Andrea Kramer (why not throw Pam Oliver in there?). I do like Suzy, but other than her, they’re all just “equal time” placements. If they’re going to sit there and squak, they might as well look nice. Nothing wrong with that.

bradshawlives says:Nov 24, 2010 8:52 AM

All Favre needs to do is win out and the Vikes will be 9-7. Then if the Packers and Bears go 1-5 the Vikes are NFL North champs! Anything can happen when you’ve got the ‘ol gunslinger……he’s like a kid out there! Just ask the media.

mnmaverick says:Nov 24, 2010 11:09 AM

I think Sterger saw an opportunity after the Saenz incident. Just like Saenz, she runs around dressed like a whore. Guys take notice and agressively pursue her because she runs around looking desoperate and she tries manipulating the situation fior financial gain and/or publicity.

Get real. Guys are given a dress code in the business world . I think it’s time that women followed suite. If they refuse, they have no room to whine. Dress like a whore and you’ll be treated like one. It’s that simple.

As a Viking fan it sucks right now, I won’t deny that. This whole sterger thing is really annoying though. Shes makin all of her money right now
With tabloids and all the idiot media. Please
Stop writing about this. I’d rather hear about how everyone should worship the packers.

stellarperformance says:Nov 25, 2010 2:06 AM

purplebleeder says: Nov 24, 2010 11:11 PM

As a Viking fan it sucks right now, I won’t deny that. This whole sterger thing is really annoying though. Shes makin all of her money right now
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Come on already….she did not invite Favre The Magnificent into her life. His overtures were uninvited and unsolicited. He made her unemployable. She deserves every dime she can get. Besides, he has it coming for being so self-centered and for treating his wife like a POS. Screw him.